131mirafiori forum

With the Irish 40th celebrations in the form of M2M13140 gathering pace with interest by many, plus the announcement of Michelle's Italian meeting in early May and with the 3 mad amigos busy with other things and due to some general apathy, nothing much has been said or done about 3ma14. But the plan to have a 3ma in 2014 still exists and it was always the intention to return to Italy as a fit celebration for the 40th anniversary of the launch of the 131. The 3 mad amigos have briefly discussed such a plan and decided that 3ma14 should be a touring 3ma rather than based on a fixed location. The provisional dates for 3ma14 are from Wednesday 28th May to Saturday 31st May.  But as this is a touring 3ma we hope that some of our Continental friends will meet up with the UK and Irish participants on Tuesday 27th May somewhere in Southeastern France for a convoy drive to Italy over the Alps on Wednesday, making 3ma14 a five day event instead of the usual 4 days.

No detailed plans or hotels have been finalised yet and for now we'd like to gauge interest in such an event as the type and location of hotels will largely depend on the number of participants. So please post your interest in such an event so we can get a rough idea of numbers before we start planning the details. If you have any suggestions or ideas and especially if you want to help in the organisation, also post here 😏

Enjoy :-[
Unfortunetly Late May is no good for me.

Count me in please!

Me too..... obviously!!!  :)

   :'( Its spring half term week with a bank holiday in it which i can't have off work .  >:(
 even if i could afford it  :( :( :( :( :( :(

It's my 10th Wedding Anniversary on the 22nd.....what better way to spend it with my Family, 131 and fellow enthuisast friends ;D ;D....plus as it's half term that's a bonus for me! :)

Will have to confirm with the Wife first as my 2 year old Daughter and 6 year old Son will be with us who are massive 131 fans :) :)

I guess I am thinking we will only be able to meet up on part of the tour.

Ineptitude team will certainly be flying the flag  ;D

Vasco says "Wouff!"

Hope you all have a great trip, looking forward to seeing lots of you in Ireland  8)

The 3 mad amigos got together over the weekend to plan 3ma14 ;)

We had a map so we were all set to plan

(http://i801.photobucket.com/albums/yy292/Thotos/P1040168_zps072daaf6.jpg)

But we also had cheesecake so there was more culinary delighting than planning  :-\

(http://i801.photobucket.com/albums/yy292/Thotos/P1040167_zpsfcca45d1.jpg)

But we have managed to decide that we are driving this  ;D

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9f/The_Stelvio_pass.jpg)

And the planning contnues today.... We've eaten all the cheesecake so we should make good progress  ;D

We've see the map reeding saga before ,  :) just follow Theo's sat nav like we usually do  ;D ;D ;D ;D

That is my dream road.  Where is it ?
Although it is a dream I would not like to have to travel it to work each day in the Falcon, even with its XR6 susspension. It is for Fiats to climb.
O.

Is that an empty box of Heineken i see ;D

Stelvio pass?

http://goo.gl/maps/tNrnw

Yes, it's the Stelvio Pass alright  ;) Kev wants to include it this year.

Jason, the map was used for finding points of interest rather than to plan the physical route between the points. Before we decide the route we need to decide the destination. ;D

Please be aware that Stelvio might be closed until Whitsunday which is June 8 this year!

Yes that's true; we need to check if the Stelvio Pass will be open on 28th May.

would you be going up it or down or both on the return trip as well  ;D ?

Appliance for leave signed for the whole week... ;D

Excellent! :D
3ma14 is slowly but surely coming together  :D But the Stelvio Pass may not be possible  :-\ My research so far tells me that the opening of the Pass is very weather dependent and extremely unlikely to be opened before the 1st of June.  And even when it is opened the authorities at the half way point are unlikely to allow any cars without snow tyres to continue to the top.  The research continues.....

Plans for 3ma14 are progressing, albeit much slower than we'd hoped  :-\  It's unlikely that the Stelvio pass will be open at the end of May so our route into Italy might be a last minute decision  ;) Further details soon (hopefully)...  :D

Having managed to beg and acquire the expert organising services of Jacquie131 (http://www.131mirafiori.com/smf/index.php?action=profile;u=78) one of our very few female members, accommodation deals for 3ma14 are now complete and booking details will be posted shortly.

Trying to organise a 4 day driving tour by remote control hundreds of miles away hasn't proved to be easy and therefore 3ma14 will have a fair amount of making it up as we go along  ;) But that means that all who join us will have the chance to offer their suggestions and give their input so while we have almost planned everything there will be the opportunity to change plans 'on the fly'  ;D

3ma14 will start in Heitersheim in south west Germany where we'll have an overnight stay on Tuesday 27th. So on Wednesday 28th May we start our "131 Knights Rally to Turin" by heading into northern Italy via one of the Alpine passes. Which pass we actually traverse will depend on which ones are open at the time and first choice will be the Stelvio pass. Once into northern Italy we'll drive round or past both lakes Garda and Commo and end Wendesday 28th in Varese where we'll have a 2 night stay to allow us further touring of the northern Italian lakes.

We have contacted Fiat requesting a visit to the Mirafiori factory and while we still have not had confirmation of our visit we are hoping to be able to do so or at least have lunch at the Mirafiori Village. So we'll have two nights (Friday 30th and Saturday 31st) stay in Moncalieri, a small town in the province of Turin, just 5 miles (8km) south west of Turin town centre and ideally suited for our visit to Mirafiori.

Hotel booking details to follow....

Sounds great! Thanks Jacquie131 ;D

I've managed to talk my wife into joining us for the trip too, so at least Jacquie won't be the 'lone' female in the group.

I brought my Abarth out of hibernation this morning and now wish I hadn't  ::) Can't get the engine to pull in any gear and now I think the idle jet has a blockage too, so not good. I also desperately need 'outer' headlamps - preferable UK spec, but I'll consider any Carello or Siem items, at the right price obviously. Then there's the small issue of the clutch replacement and MoT which is due mid-April. :o

Might have to push the yellow Special into Service, although that will also need headlights for the MoT as two are seriously 'de-silvering'. :-\

I might have to come to 3MA14 in a non-131 the way things are going! :'( :'( :'(

You could rent my old faithfull  simon, if out all your 131 none will get you there.. ::)
   talk about last minite ,all of them problems you still had on last years 3ma you keep putting these jobs off , tut tut ....
 only wish me and lynne was coming  :)

We wish that too Jason  ;) :D

Here's the details of our hotel deals for 3ma14:

As mentioned above, 3ma14 will start in Heitersheim in southwest Germany. We hope that our German and northern European 3ma friends will join us in Heitersheim and we'll then head in convoy to our second location, Varese in northern Italy. After 2 nights in Varese we'll head to Moncalieri just outside Turin which will be our final destination and another 2 nights stay.

We have negotiated deals with 3 hotels and they are holding a number of rooms for us until the 15th of April 2014.

1. Heitersheim  -  Tuesday 27th May (1 night)

OX Hotel Caf? Bar Restaurant
Im St?hlinger 10
79423 Heitersheim

Tel: +49 (0)7634 695580

email: info@oxhotel.de
          
web: www.oxhotel.de (http://www.oxhotel.de)

Please quote "Fiat 131 group" when booking.

(http://r-ec.bstatic.com/images/hotel/max1024x768/567/5670667.jpg)

Mixing old architecture with a modern, tasteful design, this hotel is located at the heart of the peaceful town of Heitersheim, surrounded by beautiful Black Forest countryside. Occupying a building built in 1864, the Ox Hotel offers comfortable rooms which combine regional-style elements with practical amenities.

As we have no idea of the numbers and not sure what time we'll be getting to the Ox hotel, we are suggesting just a bed and breakfast booking although the Ox does have a good restaurant and we'll probably be having dinner there on the evening of Tuesday 27th May.

Double room bed and breakfast ?88
Single room bed and breakfast ?66

Meals at the Ox restaurant cost between ?10- ?25

______________________________________________________________________________

2. Varese  -  Arrival Wednesday 28th May. Departure Friday 30th May (2 nights)

Relais sul Lago
Via G. Macchi, 61
21100 Varese

tel. +39 (0)332 310022

fax. +39 (0) 332 312697

Contact: Cristiana

email: info@relaissullago.it

web: www.relaissullago.it (http://www.relaissullago.it)

Please quote "Fiat mirafiori group" when booking.

(http://r-ec.bstatic.com/images/hotel/max1024x768/252/2525647.jpg)

(http://q-ec.bstatic.com/images/hotel/840x460/227/22729758.jpg)

A short distance from Lake Varese, this hotel features a restaurant and a wellness centre with indoor and outdoor pools. All air-conditioned rooms come with free Wi-Fi. We have negotiated a half board rate to include dinner, bed and breakfast:

Double room ?118 (price per person ?59 for dinner bed and breakfast)
Single room ?65


______________________________________________________________________________


3. Moncalieri  -  Arrival Friday 30th May. Departure Sunday 1st June (2 nights)

La Darsena
Strada Torino n? 29
10124 Moncalieri TORINO

tel: +39 (0)11 642 448

fax: +39 (0)11 19823725

Contact: Front Office Manager: Nicole Scelsi +39 377.7054738

email: info@ladarsena.net

web: www.ladarsena.net  (http://www.ladarsena.net)


Please quote "Fiat mirafiori group" when booking.

(http://www.ladarsena.net/gallery/phototour/img/6.jpg)

(http://q-ec.bstatic.com/images/hotel/max1024x768/263/2634124.jpg)

The hotel La Darsena is located on the banks of the River Po in Moncalieri just a few km from Turin. All rooms are air conditioned and feature a minibar and satellite TV. Wi-Fi is free throughout.  Just a 10-minute walk from Moncalieri centre and the castle. The Lingotto Congress and Exhibition Centre is just  10 minutes away by car. The restaurant La Darsena serves Mediterranean cuisine and specialities from the Piedmont region, along with vegetarian options and selected wines. You can enjoy drinks, appetizers and candle-lit dinners on the terrace with panoramic view.

We have negotiated an option on Standard and Comfort rooms. Details and prices below:

Prices are per room for bed and breakfast

Standard Double room ?72,00
Standard Single room  ?62,00
Standard Triple room  ?89,00


Comfort Double room  ?87,00
Comfort Single room  ?72,00
Comfort Triple room   ?109,00


Comfort rooms have also double bed with soft duvet and four comfortable pillows, kettle with a selection of hot drinks, soft bathrobe and slippers, room service for breakfast, complimentary soft drink in the minibar, river-side room.

For dinner we have the option of group menu for ?16 per person offering three  courses, ? water, ? wine, 1 coffee. But there's the option to upgrade the menu up to gourmet and tasting menu (more and various dishes) at ?20 - ?25.

As mentioned above, the hotels are holding a number of rooms for us until the 15th of April 2014 so please book early to avoid disappointment.

Excellent Theo.

I'll get the rooms booked! ;)

Jason,

Unfortunately mate I can't always put 131s first, however much I might like to. I have a business to run and like you, a family to please. ;)

The only fault I had with the Abarth last year was the clutch and I have a plan in place to sort that. The headlamps have deteriorated very quickly over the last few weeks meaning that now I have no choice but to change them. As for the carb jet blockage - this has happened during it's winter lay-up, as has the pipe perishing.

Believe me, I don't like leaving anything to the last minute. :o

Both Italian Hotels booked and confirmed. Just waiting for the OX in Germany now. 8)

Guys, just to add a small note to Theo's posting above. You'll need to give a credit card number to confirm your bookings - certainly with the Italian Hotels. I used my UK Visa debit - but a word of caution - may be worth informing your Bank before you book as otherwise they'll block your card and you'll spend the best part of an hour on the phone and sending apologetic emails!  ::)

That's very well presented and clear to follow...thanks Theo.

All three hotels are now booked. :)

Now for the three ferries!!!  ;D

At 3MA13 I had a few brake issues - The master cylinder was on the way out with a fading pedal and the front pads seemed to lose bite on the long steep mountain descents. This year the master cylinder has been replaced as have the pads with a set of Ferodo racing pads which I already have on the Sport and which are more resistant to fading. Bring on the Alpine passes!!  ;D

By coincidence the wife and I were looking for holidays at the weekend for late May / early June:). Having had a great time in the Italian Lakes in 2010 (the children say it was one of their best holidays ;D) we are most likely to return there.

It would be good to meet up for one of the events if possible and meet you all and of course the cars.

If your dates coincide Rob it would be great to see you and your family. 8)

I'm still waiting to hear from the Ox Hotel.......... :-\

Looks like we are coming  :) although date collides with the 50th birthday of my friend Stefan (who all 3MA2013 attendees happen to know as their special stage marshal).

Bring Stefan along ;) What better birthday present than attending 3ma14!  ;D

Happy 50th Stefan  8)

So, 3MA14 attendees so far are -

Theo and Linda - 131 Sport

Kevin and Jacquie - 131 2000TC Super

Robert and Ingrid - Ineptitude

Simon and Wendy - Abarth Stradale (hopefully  :-[)

Anyone else booked up yet? ;D

Wow, looks like a girl's thing - 4 ladies attending! 3MA record!!  8)

Well, most of the planning was done by a lady member this year so it's fitting that this will be a girl's thing  :D Maybe we'll rename it "131 Ladies Rally to Turin"  ;D. If our visit to the Mirafiori factory fails we'll visit an Italian shoe factory instead!  ;D ;D ;D

There were certainly more ladies at 3MA in Lossburg in 2010 but I think the ratio of ladies to gents is currently the highest its ever been.

Not sure we can really call it a Ladies Rally just yet Theo - not until they buy and drive their own 131s!  ;D

(Jacquie, Wendy, I think I heard the 'clang' of a gauntlet hitting the ground! :o)

If Wendy and I drove the other 131s we have 'access' to, imagine how many shoes we could bring back from the shoe factory with two boots each to fill.

Go for it, girls  ;)  ;D  8)

Apart from the doubling of fuel costs, the increase in the number of cars in attendance would be most welcome. ;D Somehow though Jacquie I can't see Kev letting you loose in one of his 131s - he's a bit protective of them I think. :D


By the way, my boot locks have separate keys and it's unlikely they'd be issued to any new driver. ;)

Count them all

(http://i826.photobucket.com/albums/zz181/jasonh131/2010%203ma/k-DSCF7675.jpg~original)

 8 with out the 2 kids from hotel and lady mayor ?

Yep! All 3 hotels booked and confirmed for Ernst, Jan & Ren? :)
So we can add 2 two more 131 2000TC Super to the list 8)

Excellent news!  :D
See you all in 51 days, 9 hours, 52 minutes and 43 seconds  ;D or less by the time you read this...

All 3 hotels booked  8) so we can plan the itinerary  :)

As previous post, my car mad son and I were looking to join you all for one of the days, as we planned the family holiday to be in that area of Italy at this time :) :). I was also looking forward to the drive from Chester down through Belgium, Germany and Switzerland.

My wife and I spent much of last weekend trying to find a suitable location that would satisfy everyone's needs (mine were satisfied by the prospect of a 131 day ;D ;D). Eventually a place on the Venetian Coast was chosen, and when we came to book, the last place was taken :'( :'( :'( :'(

I gave up at this point and the wife booked a place in Spain :o. Another 3MA opportunity missed :'( :'( :'(

Still I have the prospect of another drive through France ::) ::). Next year I'll organise things better :)

Looking for scenic routes on the way to Torino I went through my extensive library, and the first things that surfaced were two mid-century prints: The Holy Bible Of The Alpine Pass Motorist (first edition, 1957) and a 100% analog map from 1960, see first picture  :o (however, even being very old they still are a marvelous and reliable planning tool - I'll bring them to show off, you can be sure)

Then, I do own several editions of a print work called "Curves" (NO, it's NOT what you are thinking!!), and the pictures are mind blowing! All these passes will be within an arm's reach on the way from Germany to Varese, so see for yourself some impressions from the Furka pass, the St. Gotthard pass and the Grimsel pass (who hopefully will be open by the end of May)  8)

more (continuing from previous page):

Bearing in mind that I may have to be doing this drive in a 1976 131 1600 Special I think that either me or my passenger (or both of us) will be throwing up half way down the first pass  ;D Always assuming of course that we are still anywhere near you in your Twin Cams. :-\

Some of those roads look stunning Robert. As has been alluded further up this thread, we have no hard and fast plans for this year's event so all suggestions are very welcome. :)

Stelvio is definitely a challenge on several levels and I think is best tackled in chunks, especially if no power steering!!  :)

Plus the sheer volume of traffic in both directions precludes much spirited driving (there's that phrase again... that was first used at 3MA07!!!)  ;D

Taking breaks allows one to enjoy the ever changing vista ....and the slowly changing oxygen levels (I kid you not).....!

It's rewarding to reach the top though and there are many restaurants, coffee stops, souvenir shops....along with lots of motoring enthusiasts!

 And lacking oxygen levels for the cars to burn as well as i  found out at the top of Bavaria..

We've managed to extend the hotel booking deadline to 30/04/2014 so you have another 2 weeks to book your rooms  :D

For anyone joining us in Dover and taking the DFDS ferries crossing from Dover to Dunkirk we have a 20% discount code ENFF20S  ;)

It's just 5 weeks to 3ma14  :D But you've only got just over a week to book the hotels. After the end of April, our reserved rooms will be released and since we are staying in popular locations it's likely that the rooms will go fast once released. Don't forget you can always cancel the hotel rooms if something goes wrong and you can't make it so if in doubt book the rooms now while they are still available  ;)  Details of our hotel deals can be found at http://www.131mirafiori.com/smf/index.php?topic=6882.msg59200#msg59200 (http://www.131mirafiori.com/smf/index.php?topic=6882.msg59200#msg59200)

This year's 3ma is looking like being the smallest gathering we've had so far so probably also looking like the last 3ma  :-[ Our hotel room reservations have now lapsed and the rooms held for 3ma will be released by the hotels. But there may still be time to book if you are quick so if you want to be part of what may be the last ever 3ma, please be quick and book your place to go down in the annals of 3ma history  :D

Where are we going to drive to in May next year in our 131s then Theo? Or are we going to stay at home now?  :'(

There's nothing wrong with a small gathering Theo....makes for a totally different dynamic...and allows the days to be more flexible.  :)

I'm really looking forward to touring sunny Europe and seeing the snowy Alps......

Well, after all, the 3MA motto for this year is "Knights Rallye to Turin" - looks like there's not many knights among us  ;)

- The Ineptitude is ready to set sail, by the way. Can't wait for the multitude of alpine passes to conquer  ;D

Bad thing is that there are 2 major events this year, and I guess the Irish event draws more attention. (I myself am still undecided if we go there - I'd like to, but...)

How about 3MA2015 in Chester?  ;) ;D If not, we thought about an event covering the German/French area of Alsace, Lorraine, Vosges we could organize.

The alpine passes will have to be driven rather more slowly by me this year, especially if I'm in a 1600 OHV against everyone elses 2000TC  :'( :'( :'( :'( I'll have to see you back at the hotel at the end of each day  :'( :'( :'( :'(

I personally don't care about the title "smallest gathering" as long as it's still "the next"  ::)

Nethertheless: for everyone still undecided: take your chance become part of the elite  ;D

Sounds good to me Robert.....I don't think anyone wants the event to die off and there must be loads of suitable venues left to explore in our 131s.....it's local organisers that we're short of....... :)

Jacquie131 (http://www.131mirafiori.com/smf/index.php?action=profile;u=78) has come up trumps again! I've been trying for a while to convince Fiat to allow us to visit a factory or some other 'special' Fiat location to celebrate the 40th anniversary of our beloved 131s but it was like hitting my head against a brick wall. I was either doing something wrong or the Italians just don't like me...  :'( :'(  So once again we turned to the expert convincing powers of our charming female member Jacquie131 (http://www.131mirafiori.com/smf/index.php?action=profile;u=78) and not only she managed to get Fiat to be very accommodating but they've even given us choices of multiple places to visit  :D So as part of 3ma14 the (very few, or 'elite' as described earlier in this forum thread  ;)) participants will be privileged to visit the Historic Fiat Centre.

Inaugurated in 1963, Centro Storico Fiat, located in Turin, is hosted by an Art Nouveau building that was built as the first expansion (1907) of the workshops located on Corso Dante, the company's first home.

The facility began to witness important moments in Fiat's history straight away: the first of these dates back to 4 May 1966, when in the building's central hall Vittorio Valletta, a key figure in the more than a century of history of the company founded by Senator Giovanni Agnelli, signed the agreement with the USSR that led to the construction of Togliattigrad.

Centro Storico Fiat now hosts a collection of automobiles, mementos, models and advertising manifestos by artists spanning the company's entire history: from its first vehicle, the 3? Hp, to the impressive Mefistofele, which in 1924 beat the all-time world speed record. Then there are the first tractor, the Fiat 702 of 1919, the 18BL truck, which transported Italian troops in the First World War, the Littorina, a rail transportation leader beginning in the Thirties, and the striking G91 fighter, an aircraft designed by Giuseppe Gabrielli and later adopted by NATO.

The exhibit itinerary, which will surprise visitors with Fiat ship engines, bicycles, refrigerators and washing machines, includes a reconstruction of several facilities symbolic of the company's history and changes in its working methods.

In the same building are located the corporate archives, available by appointment: more than 5,000 linear meters of print documents, 300,000 technical designs, 5,000 automotive and industrial history volumes and magazines, more than six million images (prints, slides, plates and negatives) and over 200 hours of historical films. Of particular interest is the archive of designer Dante Giacosa, the ?father? of the mini cars: the Fiat Topolino (?little mouse? in Italian), the Fiat 600 and the Fiat 500, which motorized the Italian population.

(http://www.fiatspa.com/Gallery/MediaGallery/Centro%20Storico%20Fiat/centro_storico_fiat_10.jpg)

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f6/Fiat_8V_vetroresina_Centro_Storico_Fiat.jpg)

(http://www.turismotorino.org/public/image/mefistofele-centro-storico-fiat.JPG)

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xt7UPIo8uKA/UuUtDr7sCFI/AAAAAAAAGpI/0s-loD6WCrU/s1600/FIAT+131+ABARTH.JPG)

Looks like Simon is already there and parked  ;D ;D ;D ;D

Our visit to the Centro Storico Fiat will be a private guided tour and so we've been asked by Fiat to provide them with a list of attendees. If anyone who is not registered for 3ma14 wishes to join the tour, please let Jacquie131 (http://www.131mirafiori.com/smf/index.php?action=profile;u=78) know by PM or email to Jacquie@131mirafiori.com by Thursday 22nd May. If you don't let us know that you are coming you won't be allowed in by security.

@ all "131 Elite" 3MA14 attendants  ;) : when are you going to arrive at Heitersheim? We (the Ineptitude's crew) are planning to visit the Cit? de'l Automobile in Mulhouse (yes, the big Bugatti collection) on our way to Heitersheim on Tuesday - distance to Heitersheim is just around 15 mls. So, if you are early enough (Museum closes at 6 pm, I think the collection will take 2-3 hrs to see), we'd be delighted to meet you in Mulhouse! http://citedelautomobile.com/en/home

Sounds good to me  ;)
I'll check times and routes.....

Been there, done that - hence the fact we're staying in Heitersheim and not Mulhouse.

I was actually totally underwhelmed by the Schlumpf Collection myself when I saw it in 1991 - seen one Bugatti you've seen them all, but if we're all going then I'll go with the flow.

I don't think we can make it anyway. Our ferry lands in Dunkirk at 11:00 am and we then have over 400 miles (650 Km) to get to Heitersheim. With a couple of fuel/comfort stops we'd be lucky to make it to Heitersheim by 7:00pm so no time to visit the museum  :-\

Shame about the Bugattis.....as I've not seen them. Thanks for the suggestion though Robert.

Well I'm on my way. Car was packed last night, well last week really but there are always last minute thoughts like what if the weather is colder/wetter/snowier, etc than I thought? What if this or that happens to the car.....or failures to electronic devices, emergency food and drink, etc etc. I do like to be prepared but like Simon says, if you pack it you want need it. Packing the compulsory car wash bucket takes up a surprising amount of space in the boot!  :)

The alarm went off at 4.30 and I'm now sitting on board the ferry in the Stena Plus lounge (a free upgrade following my observation that the on board wifi is rubbish) constantly yawning and hopefully will get some zzzzzzs.

I should get to Simon's around tea time to tick off one of the things on my bucket list namely a drive in what has regularly been described as the best car in the world! Can't wait and am expecting my jaw to drop!!  :)

Then spending a night with the in laws before a leisurely spin to Dover for the kick off for the 8th 3MA!! Who'd have thought that we'd maintain this level of insanity so long!  ;D

(http://i766.photobucket.com/albums/xx305/kev132/imagejpg1-6.jpg~original) (http://s766.photobucket.com/user/kev132/media/imagejpg1-6.jpg.html)

Get  a collapsible bucket ,kev , i have .. 8)

(https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/shopping?q=tbn:ANd9GcSMDMpXsNrNyF13YisKVDm4folUJ5FJc7fDJx4iWPnrZAaG3D7V&usqp=CAE)

Well the UK&Irish 3maers are stuck in Dover as our ferry has been cancelled  :'( Next ferry we can get is the 10:00 o'clock so we're not likely to get to the OX before about 9:00pm  :'( Save some dinner for us please....

More ferry delays and still stuck in Dover docks. At this rate it'll be midnight by the time we get there  :-[

The UK and Irish 131 knights are finally sitting at a round table on the ferry  :D

Time for plenty of coffee  ;D Lets hope that it's your only delay of the trip. Have a good safe drive :)

Maybe we should meet here for dinner?

Sad but true: 3MA14 is now officially over for team Knauber.
We dropped off the Supers in the garage at 23:00 yesterday and arrived home after midnight.
A hell lot of fantastic impressions will need to be sorted in both our brains and on our computers.
A big THANK YOU for everybody making this event one (if not THE) personal highlight of the year -  especially Jacquie for organising the hotels and the visit to centro storico.
My special thanks go to Kevin for giving me his spare brake fluid, Alberto and Michele for the tip where to get a new metal brake line in Turin on a Saturday morning, once again Kevin for the lift to the car parts shop and back to the hotel, Robert for providing a new rear brake cylinder and all the others for their moral support.
We wish all the others still on the road a safe and "free-of-traffic-jams" journey home.
Regards,
Ernst, Jan & Ren

Glad to hear you got home in one day. :)

Team UK should be home tonight despite an Auto Route closure.

Team Ireland is having one more leisurely night in France near Le Mans before heading for Cherbourg tomorrow.

Had a great 3MA. Despite the much lower levels of organisation and attendance. Highlights were the Lingotto roof top and Fiat Centro Storico. As well as seeing old friends of course. Heidi has stood up well to another marathon drive which will be approx 4500kms in 10 days. These 131s just get better the more they are used!  ;D

Thanks to the Italian chapter for organising our Saturday...best pizza ever!!  :)

Looks like a great few days  well done to all

3mas seem to get better with every year and for me 3ma14 was the best one so far  :D  Maybe it's because it's all still very fresh in my mind  ;)  But sadly, 3ma14 is now over and team Enfield-UK arrived home last night about 11:00pm after just under 2000 miles (3220 km) of pure 131 3ma fun. Today it's back to daily routine and back to work and already looking forward to 3ma15  ;D

(http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/ff477/TheoKyriacou/3ma14/P1140269_zpsd1379874.jpg)

(http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/ff477/TheoKyriacou/3ma14/P1140275_zpsda501fa5.jpg)

(http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/ff477/TheoKyriacou/3ma14/P1140331_zps23c2c39b.jpg)

Team Farnborough-UK also arrived home close to 23.00hrs last night after a very similar mileage to Theo. ;D Another great event although slightly blighted by a few 'issues' with the Abarth this year, which meant the burning of the midnight oil in order to fix - but fix we did! ;D Special thanks here go to Theo and Ernst for their technical input!

3MA is always a great event - but this year the highlight for me was blagging our way onto the roof at Lingotto!  8) Seriously cool  8) 8) 8) 8) I had goose-bumps walking up the spiral, but when we were able to drive up it a few minutes later I just couldn't believe my luck!  :o Superb. :D Another thing to cross off my bucket list! ;)

3MA is a very small drop in the classic car ocean but our ripples certainly seem to radiate for miles as was proven at Dunkirk ferry port on the way home when a guy showed interest in the two 131s. We chatted for a while and then he asked my name, which I told him - turned out to be the recently retired Fiat UK Homologation Specialist, who knew both me and Theo.  ;D Scary really isn't it? :o

Anyway, I think the time has come to semi-retire the Abarth for a refurb and refresh, however here's to 3MA15 - can't wait!  ;D

The "Ineptitude" crew arrived at their home port yesterday, after another night spent in the lovely Ox Hotel in Heitersheim. A trip of just 2000 kms for us, but what a trip! Apart from some technical hassles this was a journey to be cherished and remembered. Special thanks go to Jacquie for finding the accommodations and aranging the visit to Fiat Centro Storico, to the one and only Fiat Magician Ernst Knauber for invaluable technical assistance and to all other 3MA attendees for being there and for being 131 maniacs  ;D

But now, the story illustrated by a small part of our 1000 photos...

Our first destination, even before meeting up with our anglo saxon friends, was the Cit? de l'Automobile in Mulhouse, the famous Schlumpf Bugatti collection. These days they do display not only Bugattis, but lots of other interesting cars; here's just three small examples:

(http://www.oelprinz-online.de/images/fiatforum/3ma14-01.jpg)

(http://www.oelprinz-online.de/images/fiatforum/3ma14-02.jpg)

(http://www.oelprinz-online.de/images/fiatforum/3ma14-03.jpg)
 
The next day took us into Switzerland, along the shore of Lake Lucerne, one of the most beautiful lakes in the world:

(http://www.oelprinz-online.de/images/fiatforum/3ma14-04.jpg)

and up to the Sustenpass, to 2222 meters, back into winter times:

(http://www.oelprinz-online.de/images/fiatforum/3ma14-06.jpg)

(http://www.oelprinz-online.de/images/fiatforum/3ma14-05.jpg)

Having crossed the St. Gotthard pass in heavy traffic (the Ineptitude losing her handbrake due to a snapped connection - very nice in uphill stop-and-go), it took us ages to get into Varese, where our hotel was waiting for us. It took us even longer, because Theo (relying on his satnav) insisted on incorporating a short gravel Special Stage into our itinerary:

(http://www.oelprinz-online.de/images/fiatforum/3ma14-07.jpg)

The very next morning, it was again the Fiat Magician Ernst who came to the rescue, repairing the Ineptitude's handbrake in the hotel parking on the fly, so we could attend the drive to Lake Como.

(http://www.oelprinz-online.de/images/fiatforum/3ma14-08.jpg)

However, we were stalled again in the rush hour traffic of Varese, when Simon's Abarth choose to stall. You can see here a nice variation of the infamous MMS (Mirafiori Modular Starter, see http://www.131mirafiori.com/smf/index.php?topic=5549.msg45080#msg45080):

(http://www.oelprinz-online.de/images/fiatforum/3ma14-09.jpg)

In a conveniently located parking lot nearby, Theo exchanged the modernistic hall sensor in the Abarth's dizzy for old-school points, and off we went!

(http://www.oelprinz-online.de/images/fiatforum/3ma14-10.jpg)

The trip took us to Bellagio, a wonderfully located small town on Lake Como, where we had ice cream in the most beautiful of surroundings.

(http://www.oelprinz-online.de/images/fiatforum/3ma14-11.jpg)

At around 6 pm we boarded a ferry that took us across the lake, from where we drove leisurely back to Varese.

(http://www.oelprinz-online.de/images/fiatforum/3ma14-12.jpg)

(http://www.oelprinz-online.de/images/fiatforum/3ma14-13.jpg)

Friday saw us on our way to Turin - can you spot the Photoshop editing in this picture?

(http://www.oelprinz-online.de/images/fiatforum/3ma14-14.jpg)

And here we were, entering la citt? del centotrentuno, the Piemontese Motorcity:

(http://www.oelprinz-online.de/images/fiatforum/3ma14-15.jpg)

Waiting for the Fiat Centro Storico to open its doors for us, Jan invented the MB, the Mirafiori Barbecue:

(http://www.oelprinz-online.de/images/fiatforum/3ma14-16.jpg)

Inside the Centro Storico, lots of interesting exhibits awaited us, even the Devil himself:

(http://www.oelprinz-online.de/images/fiatforum/3ma14-17.jpg)

(http://www.oelprinz-online.de/images/fiatforum/3ma14-18.jpg)

And here's some nice presents, one for her:

(http://www.oelprinz-online.de/images/fiatforum/3ma14-19.jpg)

one for me (and no, you don't need to wrap them, we take them as they are):

(http://www.oelprinz-online.de/images/fiatforum/3ma14-20.jpg)

oh, and we take the washing mashine too, please put it in the back seat:

(http://www.oelprinz-online.de/images/fiatforum/3ma14-21.jpg)

And on to Mirafiori plant, where it all began for each of our cars, in her case 36 years ago, and I felt really really sentimental for taking her back to her birthplace:

(http://www.oelprinz-online.de/images/fiatforum/3ma14-23.jpg)

In the mirafiori caf?, we deliberately choose the proper table:

(http://www.oelprinz-online.de/images/fiatforum/3ma14-22.jpg)

The next day, Saturday, turned out to be the highligt of the trip, if not the highlight of 2014: a visit to Lingotto, the old Fiat plant in the city that was closed down years ago and transformed by renowned Italian Architect Renzo Piano to a shopping mall with hotels. There's still the test track ("la pista") on the roof, but according to all available sources not to be reached by car, if you are lucky you are admitted by foot. Here's a picture we saw at Cento Storico that was wetting our appetite to at least try the latter:

(http://www.oelprinz-online.de/images/fiatforum/3ma14-lingotto01.jpg)

Up we went, after obtaining a key to the door from the hotel counter, and there we were - without car but happy:

(http://www.oelprinz-online.de/images/fiatforum/3ma14-lingotto02.jpg)

(http://www.oelprinz-online.de/images/fiatforum/3ma14-lingotto03.jpg)

And then, when back on street level, a young Italian engineer who admired the Ineptitude told us we might just ask at the entrance to Lingotto if we could go up on "la pista" in the 131; maybe the'd turn us down, but we might as well risk it. So, after pulling up at the gate and asking the guard in my very best Italian ("siamo da Germania, e possibile entrare a la pista con il nostro centotrentuno?") he raised the bar for us, telling us he'll admit us, but if we are sent back by the rooftop guard we would have to obey) - and up we went the spiral drive!

(http://www.oelprinz-online.de/images/fiatforum/3ma14-lingotto04.jpg)

and since there was nobody looking, for a quick dash through the steep turn:

(http://www.oelprinz-online.de/images/fiatforum/3ma14-lingotto05.jpg)

(http://www.oelprinz-online.de/images/fiatforum/3ma14-lingotto06.jpg)

As we heard shouting, we choose to leave la pista for good, but when driving down the spiral drive we met our mates, who also had managed to convince the guard to let them enter, and in an instant we turned for this memorable gathering:

(http://www.oelprinz-online.de/images/fiatforum/3ma14-lingotto07.jpg)

(There's loads more of those pictures, but one must be enough for now)

The afternoon activities were organized by our Italian amici, who turned up in 4 mirafioris (and one Lancia Gamma). They sheperded us through Turin up to Basilica Superga, where you have a marvelous view of the city.

(Smile, you are on Facebook):

(http://www.oelprinz-online.de/images/fiatforum/3ma14-24.jpg)

(http://www.oelprinz-online.de/images/fiatforum/3ma14-25.jpg)

Going downhill again, Theo slipped into the persona of "Doctor Gamma", repairing Alberto's ailing Gamma in an instant:

(http://www.oelprinz-online.de/images/fiatforum/3ma14-26.jpg)

Dinner we did have al fresco in a lovely Pizzeria, and then it was goodbye to our Italian friends.

Sunday saw us leaving Turin, filling up blu Super at an Agip station before taking the Autostrada north.

(http://www.oelprinz-online.de/images/fiatforum/3ma14-27.jpg)

The last highlight on the drive home was the Great St Bernard pass at an altitude of 2473 m. A marvelous drive it is!

(http://www.oelprinz-online.de/images/fiatforum/3ma14-28.jpg)

(http://www.oelprinz-online.de/images/fiatforum/3ma14-29.jpg)

(http://www.oelprinz-online.de/images/fiatforum/3ma14-30.jpg)

And here we are, already having parted company with our anglo saxon friends, on our last leg to Germany, accompanied by Ernst, Jan & Ren?:

(http://www.oelprinz-online.de/images/fiatforum/3ma14-31.jpg)

Un viaggio meraviglioso - looking forward to 3MA15!

Some very impressive pics  :o

Hope to join at 3MA15  ;)

Really looking forward to M2M13140, about time to see some other 131 and their owners again  8)

Looks amazing ;D thanks for the full story Robert and the photo's

Lovely photos. Shame I'm not in the position to do the 3MA at present but I am looking forward to my trip to Germany and Italy later this year ;)

Great shots and a great story! thanks Roberto,
on one picture i see Simon lost one tailpipe or isn't two?

Enzo  ;)

Enzo, my Abarth is only one tailpipe since I fitted a complete new stainless steel system back in 2004  ;)

video 3ma14

http://youtu.be/W_85OZEv5_4 (http://youtu.be/W_85OZEv5_4)

and the Itlian one a few weeks earlier  40th 

http://youtu.be/Y1VSh2sXdaM (http://youtu.be/Y1VSh2sXdaM)